Action source

Mechanism

Agenda Item

Action date

04/03/2010

Background

The Vice-Chairperson introduced the paper entitled “Reflections on a Fairer, Greener, More Sustainable Globalization” which had built upon the outcome of the High-level Committee on Programmes’ brainstorming session on the same issue. The paper contained a number of elements for the Committee’s consideration, with the aim of moving the United Nations system towards a new paradigm of development, drawing and building on both the momentum expected to be generated around the Millennium Development Goals and the internationally agreed development goals by the High-level Plenary Meeting of the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly, as well as the willingness, in the wake of the global financial and economic crisis, to re-examine many long-held approaches and principles underpinning current economic and social policies.

Discussion

During the discussion, a number of observations were made:

(a)Moving towards fairer, greener and more sustainable globalization would require a rethinking of growth, with a focus on risk and resource scarcity, and reforming governance, with a focus on inclusion, safeguarding the resilience of the vulnerable populations and the needs of future generations.

(b)When discussing the role of the United Nations in bringing to the fore new ideas and approaches, it was important to keep in mind three distinct components: (a) the governance system of the United Nations; (b) United Nations staff and their expertise; and (c) external players in partnership with the United Nations.

(c)There was need for serious reflection on what was missing in the current range of institutions and policy frameworks to advance global public goods and to address the “mega trends” that were reshaping the world.

(d)It was important for the system to seek direction from Member States to ensure that the multilateral framework responded to current needs and was fit for the purpose.

(e)The General Assembly, with its universal membership, was the appropriate venue for looking at new conceptual thinking and developing relevant legislative processes. While it was appropriate to consider how the United Nations system might wish to contribute some reflections on fairer, greener and more sustainable globalization, it was necessary to maintain critical focus on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in the lead-up to the High-level Plenary Meeting in September 2010.

(f)In looking strategically at globalization, there were three areas upon which to focus: regulations (such as with regard to pricing of greenhouse gas emissions); capacity (more equity in implementing and monitoring regulations); and global governance (individual United Nations system organizations and their governing structures, the G-8 and G-20, and the United Nations as a whole);

Action

The Committee thanked the Vice-Chairperson for the thoughtful issues paper, which would be revised based on the discussion held.